Auxiliary flow control attachment for tank flushing systems



Jan. 26, 1960 F. M. CRANDALL 2,922,158

AUXILIARY FLOW CONTROL ATTACHMENT FOR TANK FLUSHING SYSTEMS Filed nec.s. 1957 2- Sheets-Sheet l I if" ATTORNEY Jan. 26, 1960 F. M. cRANDALL.2,922,168

AUXILIARY FLOW CONTROL ATTACHMENT FOR TANK FLUSHING SYSTEMS Filed-Dec.9, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1NVENT0R f AUXILIARY FLOW CONTROL ATTACHMENTFOR TANK FLUSHING SYSTEMS Fred M. Crandall, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 9, 1957, Serial No. 701,559

8 Claims. (Cl. 4-53) This invention relates to ow control mechanism fortoilet tank flush valves and has as its primary object the provision ofa mechanism which may be applied to the conventional toilet tank ushvalve system to convert it from a single control in which substantiallythe entire water content of the tank is discharged on each operation, toa dual or auxiliary control, whereby the usual single control issupplemented by a selective control whereby a predetermined portion ofthe water content of the tank may be delivered at an operation.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a construction in a toilettank for the purpose of water conservation whereby only a portion of thewater content of a tank is utilized to ush liquids from a toilet bowlyet permitting use of the water content of a filled tank where needed toush solids from the bowl.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary ushingvalve control which may be applied in the ordinary flushing valvesystems without the necessity of material alterations thereof other thanthe provision of a dual control handle and the provision of a specialvalve stem and which alterations are applicable generally to existingtoilet tank constructions.

Another object is to provide an auxiliary flushing valve controlmechanism which is adapted to be readily adjusted to vary and regulatethe volume of water discharged from a tank on operation thereof.

Another object is to provide an attachment of the above character whichis simple and economical in construction which is durable and not liableto get out of order but in which operating parts may be readily replacedif need be.

With the foregoing objects in view together with such other objects andadvantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in theparts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of partshereinafter described and claimed, and as illustrated by way of examplein the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation partly in section of the attachmentshowing it applied to the conventional flushing valve of a toilet tankwith the parts shown in normal out of operation position;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section and plan View as seen on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1 on an enlarged scale and with portions broken away;

Figb` is an enlarged view of the structure shown in Fig. 1 partly insection and with portions broken away showing the parts in theiroperative positions;

Fig. 4 is a View in'vertical section and elevation as seen on the line4-4 of Fig. 3 in the direction indicated by the arrows;

lFig. 5 is a detail in horizontal sectionand plan as seen on the line5-5 of Fig. 3 on an enlarged scale with portions broken away; and

Fig. 6 is a detail in horizontal section taken on the, line 6 6 of Fig.3.

Referring to the drawings more specifically A indicates generally avconventional, toilet tank havinga bottom wall States l? arent 7, sidewalls 8 and a removable cover 9. The bottom wall 7 is tted with theusual discharge pipe 10 leading therethrough having an open upper endthe margin of which is contoured to provide a valve seat 11 for thereception of the usual flushing valve B. The upper portion of the pipe10 has a lateral elbow 12 on which is mounted an upstanding overflowpipe 13 in the usual manner. The tank A is equipped with theconventional intake water supply pipe 14 and feed valve (not shown)controlled by a oat 15 in the usual manner.

The ushing `valve B normally rests on the seat 1I and is designed toopen upwardly to permit discharge of water from the tank A through thedischarge pipe 10, the valve 12 having an upstanding stem 16 connectedby a link 17 to the outer end of an arm 18 fixed on" a rock shaft 19extending through the front wall of the tank A land fitted at its outerend with a lever hand 20.

The stem 16, link 17, arm 18, rock shaft 19 and handle 20 constitute theusual mechanism commonly employed for manually lifting the valve B fromits seat on depressing the lever handle 20, the mechanism and operationbeing such as to lift the valve B a sufficient distance above the seat11 that the flow of water beneath the valve to discharge will sustainthe valve in an elevated position independent of the handle lever 20until the weight of the valve and its stem overcomes the water pressurebeneath the valve and thereby cause the latter to move to its closedposition.

The present invention resides in the provision of a mechanism adapted tobe associated with the above described conventional tank flushing systembutl operable independent thereof whereby the valve B may be lifted andsustained in a partly open or nearly closed position and maintained insuch position in opposition to the pressure of water on either side ofthe valve for a predetermined time, or until a predetermined portionofthe water content of the tank is discharged, together with meanscontrolled by the fall of water levell in the tank for automaticallyfreeing the valve from `its sustained partly open position to allow itto move to its closed position on the seat 11.

ln carrying out the invention as illustrtaed in the drawings, asupplemental hand operated control lever 21 is provided which lever iscarried On a tubular sleeve 22 turnably mounted on and encompassing aportion ofthe rock shaft 19 and journalled in a bearing 23 extendingthrough the front wall of the tank Ain a fashion comimon in devices ofthis character.

The handles 2) and 21 are preferably arranged to-ex.- tend laterallyfrom opposite sides of the rock shaft 19 and sleeve 22 respectively asshown in Fig. 2, so that the levers may be readily operated independentofy each other.

The inner end of the sleeve 22 has a downwardly extending inger 24 hereshown as projecting alongside a horizontal pin 25 carried by ahorizontally extending slide bar 26 slidably supported in a housing 27adjustably mounted on and carried by the overflow pipe 13. The slide bar26 extends longitudinally through the housing 27 and is pivotallyconnected at its outer end by av pivot pin 2S to the uper end of avertically extending lever 29 fulcrumed intermediate its ends ony apivot pin 30 carried on brackets 31 projecting from and carried by thehousing 27. The lower end of the lever 29 hask a yoke 32 thereonarranged to be moved in and out' of engagement with the under side of aflange 33 mounted on the upper end of the valve stem 16. A flange 34 ismounted on the stem 16y in downwardly spaced relationv to the ange 33which flange 34Y is arranged to project beneath the yoke 32 when thelatter is in an advanced position whereby the lower end of the lever 29carrying the yoke 3 3 will then' serve as a` stop to prevent exces:

sive upward movement of the valve stem and valve B under the upwardthrust of discharging water on the under side of the latter. The flanges33 and 34 are forrned yonrthe ends ofv a sleeve "a with which the upperend of -the valve stem 16 is xedly engaged. 1

The lower margin of the slide bar 26 is formed with a forwardlypresented shoulder 35 adapted to be engaged, when the slide bar is in aretracted position, by a keeper 36 mounted for vertical movement in aguide-way 37 formed in the housing 27 and carried on a stern 38projecting downwardly from the lower margin of the housing 27. The stem38 is adjustably connected to a oat 39 arranged to be submerged in thebody of water contained in the tank A and adapted to drop with the fallof water in the tank and then act as a weight to effect disengagement ofthe keeper 36 from the shoulder 35.

As a means for normally maintaining the slide bar 26 in its advancedposition and for restoring it to such position from a retractedpositionY a tensioned expansion spring 40 is provided and arranged toexert its thrust Abetween the housing 27 and the slide bar 26. -As hereshown the spring 40 is mounted in a sleeve 41 having an end wall againstwhich one end of the spring 40 bears, the sleeve 41 being formedintegral with the yhousing 27. The other end of the spring 40 bearsagainst a lug 42 formed on the upper margin of the slide bar 26 andextending into the sleeve 41.

As a means for adapting the above recited structure for applicationto'tank flushing systems of the character described, wherein theoverilow pipe 13 and axes of the valve B and rock shaft 19 are variouslyspaced relative to'each other, several means of adjustment are providedIto compensate for such variations. One of such adjustments resides inthe mounting of the housing 27 on the overow pipe 13 which mountingembodies a split sleeve 43 adapted to be clamped on the pipe 13 invarious positions longitudinally and circumferentially thereof, thesleeve embodying spaced parallel ears b-b connected by a clamping screwc in the manner common to devices of this character.

The sleeve 43 carries a horizontally extending ange 44 on which issupported for longitudinal adjustment a bracket 45 xed on and projectingrearwardly from the housing 27, the bracket 44 having a longitudinalslot 46 through which a clamping screw d extends into threadedengagement with the ange 44. This adjustment permits disposing thehousing 27 in various positions inwardly and outwardly relative to theoverflow pipe 13 as well as longitudinally and circumferentially of thelatter in an obvious fashion.

Another adjustment resides in the mounting of the actuating pin 25whereby it may be disposed in various fixed positions longitudinally ofthe slide bar 26 and also be swung laterally to extend in variousangular relations to the slide bar. To this end the pin 25 is mounted ona slide block 47 seated against the under side of a rearwardly extendingange 48 projecting from the upper margin of the slide bar 26 whichflange 48 has a longitudinal slot 49 through which extends a clampingscrew 50 having threaded engagement with the block 47 and adapted toclamp the latter against movement relative to the slide block 26.However the slide bar 26 may be connected to the linger 24 in anysuitable conventional fashion. T he forward end 48' of the flange 48serves as an abutment in co-operation with the adjacent end of thehousing 27 to limit forward movement of the slide bar 26 under the urgeof the spring 40.

As a means for varying the extent of submergence of the oat 39 in thebody of water contained in the tank A and whereby the moment of droppingof the float 39 at a certain lowered level of the water is determined,the float is connected to the stem 38 of the keeper 36 by a threadedstem 51 which is screwed into an internally threaded bore in the stem 38and also into an internally threaded socket 52 carried by the float 39,as particularly shown in Fig. 3. rBy varying the extent of engagement ofthe stem 51 with the stem` 38 and sleeve 52 the extent of submergence ofthe oat 39 may be readily elected.

From the foregoing it will be seen that normal operation of the tankflushing mechanism in effecting Ifull discharge of water content of thetank A may be accomplished in the usual manner'by depressing the handlever 20 tothereby turn the rock shaft 19 and thus elevate the arm 18 soas to initially lift the valve B from its seat v11 through the link 17and valve stem 16. When this occurs theoutflowing water boosts theVvalve B to its uppermost elevated position as indicated in dotted linesin Fig. lV independent of the links 17 and arm 18, with the flange 34 onthe stem 16 passing the outer end of the yoke 32 which is then retractedclear of the path of travel of the ange 34. On dropping of the waterlevel to a point below the center of gravity of the valve B the latterwill move downwardly to its closed position on' the seat 11 in the usualmanner whereupon refilling of the tank under the control of the floatwill occur, all 'in the usual fashion. In the operation of the inventionwhen it is desired to effect discharge of a predetermined portion of thenormal Water content of the tank A, the lever 21 is depressed to rockthe sleeve 22 and swing the finger 24 rearwardly to thereby eiectretraction of the slide bar in opposition to the spring 40.

YRetraction of the slide bar 26 acts to swing the upper end of the lever29 rearwardly and thereby advance the yoke 32 on the lower end thereofupwardly on an arcuate path of travel into abutting engagement with theunderside of the ange 33 on the valve stern 26 so thatcontinued'movement of the slide bar and lever will move the valve stem16 upwardlyand thereby lift the valve B a short distance lfrom the seat11 to a partly open position where the valve comes to rest and ismaintained in such position by combined upward thrust of water thenowing over the underside of the valve and the weight of water imposed'onthe upper face of the valve which forces are counter-balanced when thevalve is slightly opened. However the ilanges 33 and 34 then co-operatewith the yoke 32 on the lower end of the lever 29 in acting as abutments4to prevent closing of the valve or ex cessive opening thereof.

On the slide bar 26 being retracted to a position where the shoulder 35rides past the keeper 36 the latter will move upwardly under the thrustof the float 39 so as to project in front of the shoulder 35 inVengagement therewith thereby holdingthe slide bar 26 against advancemovement under the urge of the spring 4i) for a period of timedetermined by the lowering level of the water in the tank A then beingdischarged past thepartly open valve B. Such period is predetermined byadjustment of the float 39 relative to the kstern 38 as before`described. When the water level has `fallen to the desired extent bydischarge of the-regulated portion of the water the oat 39 will havemoved downward suicient'to withdraw the keeper 36 out of engagement withthe shoulder 35. The spring 40 will then act to advance the slide bar 26to its forwardmost position where movement of the slide bar is arrestedby the shoulder 48 abutting the housing 27. This action of the spring 40will be augmented by a downward pull exerted on the yoke 32 on the lowerend of the lever by the valve B through the flange 33 which pull occurswhen the yoke 32 on its downward movement under the urge of the spring40 engages the flange 43 and depresses the stem 16 and valve B to apoint where the weight of the water imposed upon the valve B overpowersthe upward thrust of the water passing beneath the valve so as to acttoadvance the valve to'its closed position. On the valve being seatedthe spring 40 will act to continue advance of the slide bar 26 so as torestore the lever 29 to its j normal position with the yoke 32 retractedfrom between the flanges 33-34. 'Y l Y Y Advance movementY of the slidebar 26 causes the pin 25 to restore the finger 24, sleeve 22 andoperating lever 21 to their normal position.

An advantageous feature derived from the use of the invention inaddition to effecting conservation of water is a marked decrease in theobjectionable noise ordinarily incident to the usual toilet ilushingoperations particularly where such noise is disturbing to hearers andwhere quiet is desirable.

While I have shown and described a specic embodiment of the invention, Ido not limit myself to the exact details of construction set forth, andthe invention ernbraces such changes, modifications and equivalents ofthe parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purviewof the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a flushing system for toilets and the like, embodying a tank, avertical discharge pipe leading from said tank having a valve seat onits upper end, and a normally closed upwardly opening valve on saidseat; a handle on said tank, mechanism normally out of operativerelation to said valve adapted to be actuated by said handle intodetachable engagement with said valve to open the latter, a oat in saidtank, and means connected to and controlled by said oat releasablyengageable with said mechanism to hold said valve in a partly openposition operable to release said valve on downward movement of saidoat.

2. The structure called for in claim 1 together with screw means forraising or lowering said float relative to said mechanism to Vary thetiming of operation of said last named means.

3. In a iiush valve system for toilet tanks including -a discharge pipe,a Valve seat thereon, a normally closed upwardly opening valve on saidseat, and an upstanding stem on said valve; a lever pivotally supportedwithin the tank, co-operating means on said lever and stem for placingsaid lever and stem in and out of operative engagement, a handle carriedby the tank, mechanism connecting said handle to said lever foractuating the latter into engagement with said stem to elevate thelatter and thereby open said valve, a float in said tank, meanscontrolled by said float for detachably holding said lever in its stemelevating position adapted to release said lever and thereby free saidstem on downward movement of said oat.

4. The structure called for in claim 3 together with an adjustmentconnecting said iloat and said last named means for varying the timingof actuation of the latter.

5. In a ush valve system for toilet tanks including a discharge pipe, avalve seat thereon, a normally closed upwardly opening valve on saidseat, an upstanding stem on said valve and an upstanding overow pipe;the combination of a housing carried by said overflow pipe, a levercarried by said housing, a slide bar connected to said lever, springmeans interposed between said housing and said slide bar normallymaintaining the latter in a position wherein said lever is out ofoperative engagement with said valve stem, means for interengaging saidlever and said valve stem for lifting the latter and opening the valvethereon on swinging said lever in one direction, manually operable meansfor retracting said slide bar to thereby actuate said lever and opensaid valve, and means engageable with said slide bar to hold it in itsretracted position operable by the lowering of the water in a tank to apredetermined level to restore said slide bar.

6. The structure called for in claim 5 in which said last named meanscomprises a float, a keeper on said float abutting said slide bar underthe urge of said iloat, and a shoulder on said slide bar arranged to bereleasably er1- gaged by said keeper when said slide bar is retracted.

7. In a flushing system for toilets and the like ernbodying a tank and anormally closed upwardly opening valve controlling discharge of liquidfrom said tank; an upstanding lever in said tank, a mounting therefor,an upstanding stem on said valve, a flange on said stem, means on saidlever engageable with said ange to lift said stem upwardly and therebypartly open said valve, yieldable means acting on said lever to normallyhold said last named means out of engagement with said flange, manuallyoperable means for actuating said lever and flange engaging means inopposition to said yieldable means, and float controlled meansreleasably engageable with said last named means for holding said valvein its partly open position for a predetermined period.

8. The structure called for in claim 7 together with a second flange onsaid stem spaced beneath said first named ange engageable with the lowerend of said lever to limit limit upward movement of said stern and valvewhen the lower end of said lever is in an advanced position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 511,540Morford et al Dec. 26, 1893 934,353 Prichett Sept. 14, 1909 1,586,655Cook June 1, 1926 2,532,977 White Dec 5, 1950

